Candle making machine



March 25, 1958 G. s. FLOMP CANDLE MAKING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 24. 1954 INVENTOR. 620265 5/ /1905 fio/wp March 1958 G. s. FLOMP 2,827,663

CANDLE MAKING MACHINE Filed May 24, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 1 ISLE! ]NVENTOR. 650265 53 /203 flan 1P ,lwww 3 M United Itaes CANDLE MAKING MAtIHINE George Spiros Flomp, San Jose, Calif.

Application May 24, 1954, Serial No. 431,837

Claims. (Cl. 182

This invention relates to the art of making candles and more particularly to certain novel improvements in candle making machines.

In the art of making candles it has been the practice to mechanize the process of dipping with the purpose of simulating the steps in the hand dipping of candles. As of old, a wick is periodically dipped into molten wax and withdrawn therefrom with a layer of wax deposited thereon for cooling to a predetermined temperature. This dipping process is continued so as to collect coat upon coat of wax until the candle has developed into a taper or candle of the diameter desired. In this process it is very important that each coat of wax deposited upon a prior one be welded and merged into one homogeneous body of wax. Otherwise each coating of wax would become stratified and be likely to break away from the preceding coats of wax.

It will therefore be understood that in the art of candle making the timing between each immersion as well as atmospheric and temperature conditions between immersions are critically important to the production of a sound, uniform and well constructed candle. These facts are fundamental whether the candles are hand made or machine dipped, but must be reconciled with in the manufacture of candles in machines.

More particularly, in the making of candles in a machine it is usually the purpose to mass produce, i. e., to make great quantities of candles simultaneously. This necessitates the suspension or stringing of the wicks in groups that will fit into the vat containing the molten wax which of course requires that the wicks in each group thereof be in close proximity to each other leaving enough space between them to accommodate the girth of the indvidual candles and yet leave suflicient clearance between them to facilitate the cooling of the wax between each dipping operation.

In addition to the foregoing, it is equally important to allow sulficient cooling time between each dipping operation so that the last applied coat of wax will not melt away during the next or successive dipping operations. With these fundamental requirements in mind, it is an object of this invention to provide a candle making machine in which candles simulating hand made candles can be mass produced.

Another object of this invention is to provide a machine in which groups of candle wicks strung on a frame can be placed on a conveyor for periodic dipping and intermittent cooling in timed relation. In this connection it is a further object to provide wick holding frames readily attachable to an automatic conveyor-dipper so that new groups of wick holding frames can replace those on which candles are already formed without stopping the intermittently operated conveyor-dipper.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a conveyor for supporting a plurality of groups of candle wicks strung on frames for intermittent movement toward 8 dipping station. In this connection, it is an object to Zfifiifihfi i atented Mar. 25, 1958 provide a dipping station in which each group of candle wicks on a frame upon arrival at such station automatically sets the latter in motion for dipping the frame into molten wax for a predetermined time after which such frame is automatically raised and again assumes its position in the conveyor for intermittent movement thereby.

Another object is to provide a candle making machine for conveying independent groups or racks of candle wicks intermittently to a dipping station, dipping each such group while other groups are maintained in line for successive positioning at such dipping station and subject to removal from such line and replaceable by a new group or rack without interfering with the intermittent operation of the machine.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a reading of the following description in the light of the drawings in which:

Fig. l is a side elevation partly in section and broken away to illustrate the general assembly of a candle making machine embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken along line 2-2 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal plan view taken from above in Fig. l and substantially along line 3-3 thereof.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary horizontal section through the machine shown in Fig. l and taken substantially along line 44 thereon.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the drive mechanism of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a schematic diagram of the control system and mechanisms associated with the clipping station shown at the right in Fig. l.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of one of the frames on which wicks are strung and constituting one group thereof.

Referring to Fig. l, the candle making machine of the present invention, designated 10, generally comprises a conveyor 11 connected to a drive 12 for moving a plurality of groups of candle wicks 13 through a circuitous path to and from a dipping station 14 for periodic dipping into a vat of molten wax 15 under the control of an automatically operated control 16.

The conveyor 11, for the purposes of the present invention, is mounted for rotation about a fixed shaft or mast M. The conveyor preferably includes a tubular shaft 26 mounted for rotation on the fixed mast and coupled to the drive 12. The conveyor has a plurality of elevator guide shafts 21 supported for up and down movement relative to an annular frame 22 carried by the tubular shaft 20.

The frame 22 consists of a plurality of arms 23 extending radially from a hub 24 secured to the shaft 20 at the desired elevation. These radially extending arms 23 are further supported by straps 25 each of which has one of its ends secured to a flange 26 mounted on top of the tubular shaft 20 and its opposite end secured as at 27 to a respective one of the radial arms 23 for supporting the latter at right angles to the mast. Each of the radial arms 23 are further supported in equally spaced relation by an annular band 28 connected to each of these arms 23 adjacent their outer extremity, i. e., between the latter and the point of connection 27 between each arm and the diagonal strap 25.

The extremity of each arm 23 is provided with a guide s eeve 29 having its guide passage 30 disposed vertical to receive one of the elevator guide shafts 21 hereinbefore mentioned. Each of the guide shafts 21 is identical and therefore like reference numerals will identify like parts thereof. Each guide shaft 21 has a tapered lower end 31 (Fig. 7) with a diametrical bore 32 for receiving a pin or bolt 33. Just above the tapered lower end 31 is a cone like collar 34 (Figs. 1 and 6) having its upper and lower limits of movement of the elevator guide shaft 21. These switches 87 and 88 are fixedly mounted on the stationary control panel 60 and have their actuating levers in the path of movement of the lateral arm 92 for the purpose explained. However, it should be noted that the upper switch 87 is normally closed and the lower switch 88 is normally open. Consequently, when the arm 92 drops with the released elevator guide shaft the upper switch 87 assumes circuit making condition for reasons later to become apparent.

Now, when the particular elevator guide shaft 21 of which is at the dipping station reaches its lowermost extremity of movement, i. e., when the candle wick frame 81 associated therewith is immersed in the molten wax, the lateral arm 92 strikes the actuating lever 'on the lowermost switch 88 which completes the electrical circuit 69 to a timer relay 94 for establishing a circuit to the coil of the three-way valve solenoid 63 via the normally closed upper switch 87. Thereupon the three-way valve 63 is changed in position to admit compressed air from supply pipe 62 into the lower region of the cylinder 57 via the pipe line 61. Thus the compressed air lifts the piston 56 and with it the guide shaft 21 connected thereto. As the elevator guide shaft 21 rises the lateral arm 92 thereon strikes the actuating lever on the normally closed upper switch 87 whereupon the circuit to the coil of the threeway valve solenoid 63 is broken to allow the three-way valve to return to normally closed condition. In this manner the relief port 65 again becomes communicated with the lower portion of the cylinder 57 to relieve the latter of air pressure. Simultaneous with the foregoing the roller 91 on the lateral arm 92 passes the end of the latch lever 90 which thereupon prevents the lowering of the elevator guide shaft 21 upon relief of compressed air from the cylinder when the three-way valve returns to normal position as just stated above.

The cycle of operation at the control 16 thus being completed the motor 75 having continued to drive the main 76 and with it the Geneva drive 77 so that the latter now makes a quarter turn. This action of the Geneva drive is again transmitted to the small gears 78-79 to move the gear 73 on the tubular shaft 20 another step (i. e., the circumferential distance between the elevator guide shafts 21). Thus the elevator shaft 21 which was previously lowered will again have its disc head 41 supported on the fixed track 43 and the disc head 41 of the next successive elevator guide shaft will now be disposed in the channel track 53 for support thereby.

The foregoing intermittent operation of the conveyor 11 and each elevator guide shaft 21 continues under the automatic control 16 so as to dip each group or rack of candle wicks W into the vat 15 of molten wax. In this manner after each dipping operation each rack or group of wicks is carried around the circuitous path by the conveyor 11 giving the wax coating applied to the wicks a chance to cool and harden sufliciently before again being dipped into the vat of molten wax. With each immersion of the wicks W of each group thereof the additional coats of wax build up upon the previously applied coats thereof in the same manner as heretofore practiced in hand dipping of candles. After the proper number of clippings of the several racks or groups of wicks each such rack can be removed from the machine by withdrawal of the pin 33 from the boss 80 and tapered lower end 31 of the elevator guide shaft 21. A newly strung rack of wicks W is then attached to the elevator guide shaft while other racks are being dipped and the machine thus continues to operate without stopping.

While I have described my improved candle making machine in specific detail it will be understood that the same is susceptible to alterations, variations and/ or modifications without departing from the spirit of my invention. I therefore desire to avail myself of all alterations, variations and/ or modifications as fairly come within the purview of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desired to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination with a conveyor for intermittently moving a plurality of groups of candle wicks in succession to and from a clipping station for immersion into a vat of molten wax, wick suspending elevator shafts supported for up and down movement on said conveyor, each having a rider on its upper end, a fixed track adjacent said conveyor engaged by the riders on said shafts to hold the same in raised position, said fixed track having a gap formed therein at said dipping station for releasing said riders as they register therewith, an hydraulic cylinder at said dipping station including a vertically movable piston and piston rod, a channel track secured to the lower end of said piston rod disposed in said gap for receiving and supporting each said rider as it arrives at said dipping station, latch means for holding said piston rod in raised position, a compressed fluid line communicated with said cylinder, a solenoid operated three-way valve in said compressed fluid line, and a control circuit including a release solenoid for said latch means, a switch operatively associated with said conveyor to close circuit to said release solenoid upon the arrival of an elevator shaft at said dipping station, and a limit switch at the end of the stroke of said rod engageable thereby for energizing the solenoid operated three-way valve for raising said piston rod into latched engagement with said latch means.

2. In a candle making machine including a vat of molten wax at a dipping station and a conveyor for intermittently moving a plurality of groups of candle wicks through a circuitous path for stoppage in succession at said dipping station, comprising a plurality of elevator shafts each having a group of candle wicks suspended from its lower end supported in spaced relation on said conveyor for up and down movement relative thereto, and a latch lever for normally latching said shaft in raised position, and control means at said dipping station comprising an hydraulic lift including a piston rod axially aligned with a particular elevator shaft disposed at said dipping station, coupling means on the lower end of said piston rod for coupling the latter to an elevator shaft as the latter moves into register with said dipping station, a switch arranged adjacent said conveyor, detent means on said conveyor coordinated with each of said groups of candle wicks for closing said switch upon arrival of an elevator shaft at said dipping station, a release solenoid energized by said switch for releasing said latch lever relative to said elevator shaft, a conduit for supplying fluid under pressure to said hydraulic lift, a solenoid controlled three-way valve in said conduit normally positioned to block the supply of fluid under pressure to said hydraulic lift and to vent the latter to afford unrestrained movement of said piston rod under the influence of gravity, and a limit switch on said control panel engageable by an elevator shaft lowered with said piston rod for completing circuit to the solenoid of said three-way valve for supplying fluid under pressure to said hydraulic lift for raising said piston rod and said elevator shaft into normal position relative to said conveyor for latching engagement with said latch lever.

3. In a candle making machine having a conveyor for intermittently moving a plurality of groups of candle wicks in succession to and from a clipping station for immersion into a vat of molten Wax, a plurality of wick suspending elevator shafts arranged for vertical reciprocation on said conveyor, a latch means on said conveyor for holding each elevator shaft in raised position, an hydraulic cylinder at said dipping station including a vertically movable piston and piston rod, means on the lower end of said piston rod for receiving and supporting each said elevator shaft as it arrives at said dipping station, a compressed fluid line communicated with said cylinder, a solenoid operated valve in said compressed fluid line, and a control circuit including a 

